Britains Remembrancer — George Wither

Britains Remembrancer · George Wither

The fifth Canto.

The Author justifies againe

His Method, and his low…y Straine.

Next, having formerly made knowne

The common Feares, he tels his owne.

Shewes with what thoughts he was diseased,

When first the Plague his lodging seized:

Of what God's Iustice him accused;

VponUpon what Doubts, or Hopes, he mus…d;

On what, and how, he did resolve;

And who from Death, did him absolve.

The Plagues encrease, he then expresseth:

The Mercies of the LORD confesseth:

Emplores that he himselfe may never

Forget them, but, be thanke…ull ever:

Then, mounting Con…emplations wings,

Ascends to high and usefull things.

From thence his Muse is called downe▪

To make Great Britaines errors knowne:

Wherein, he doth confesse a sailing;

And (his infirmities bewailing)

Is fitted and resolv'd anew,

His purpos'd Message to pursue:

And, having fi…st anticipated,

His Arrant is, in pa…t, rel…ted.

PErhaps, the nicer Cri…ickes of these times,

When they sh…ll sl…ightly view my lowly Rimes,

(Not to an end, these Poems fully reading,

Nor their Occasion, nor my Aymes, well h…eding)

May taxe my Muse that she at random flyes;

For want of Method, makes Tautelogies;

And commeth off, and on, in such a fashion,

That▪ oft she …a…les their curious expectation.

It is enough to me, that I doe know

What they commend, and what they disallow.

And let it be enough to them, that I

Am pleas'd to make such faults for them to spy.

For I intend the Method which I use▪

And, if they doe not like it, they may c…use.

They who in their Composures, keep the fashion

Of elder times, and write by imitation;

Whole quaint Inventions must be trimd and trickt,

With curious dressings, from old Authers pickt;

And whose maine workes, are little …l…e, but either

Old scattred Peeces, finely glew'd together;

Or, some concealed Structures of the Braine,

Found our (where long obscured they have laine)

And new attir'd: These, must (and well they may)

Their Poesies in formall garbes aray,

Their naturall defects by Art to hide;

And, make their old new-straines the Test abide.

These, doe not much amisse, if they assume

Some …stridge feath…rs, or the Peacockes plume

To strut withall: nor had I greatly h…eded

That course of theirs, if they had not proceeded

To c…nsure mine. My Muse no wh…t envies

That they from all their he…thnish Po…sies

Have skumm'd the Creame & to themselves (for that)

The s…ile of Prince of Poets a…ogate.

For, Plautus, Horace, Perseus, …uvenal,

Yea Greece and Romes best Muses, we may call

Their Tr…b…taries; since from them c…me in

Those Treasures which their princely Titles win.

Sometime, as well as they I play the Bee:

But, like the Silkeworme, it best pleaseth me

To spin out mine owne Bowells, and prepare them

For those, who thinke it not a shame to weare them.

My Matter, with my Method, is mine owne;

And I doe plucke my Flow'rs as they are blowne.

A Maiden when she walkes a…road to gather

Some herbs to strow the dwellings of her Father,

(Or fragrant flow'rs to deck her wedding Bowre,

Or make a nosegay for her Paramour)

She comes into the Garden, and first seizeth

The Flow'rs which first she sees, or what she pl…aseth;

Then runs to those whom use or memory,

Presenteth to her thought, or to her eye:

As toward them she …asteth, she doth finde

Some others, which were wholly out of mind…,

Ev'n till that very moment: while she makes

Her prise of those, she notice likewise takes

Of Herbs unknowne before, that lurking lay

Among the pleasant Plants within her way:

She crops off these, of those she taketh none,

Makes use of some, and lets as good alone;

Here plucks the Cowslips, Roses of the prime,

There, Lavander, sweet Marj…r…m, and Thyne,

Yon… Iuly…low'rs, or the Damask Rose,

Or sweet-breath'd Violet, that hidden growes▪

Then some againe forenam'd (if need she thinks)

Then Daisies, and then Marigolds, and Pincks:

Then Herbs anew, then Flow'rs afresh doth pull,

Of ev'ry fort, untill her lap is full.

And otherwhile, before that worke be done,

To kill a Caterpiller she doth run,

Or catch a Butterfly; which varies from

That purpose whereabout she first did come.

So, from the Muses Gardens, when I meane

Those flow'r… of usefull Po…sie to gleane,

Whi…h being well united may content

My Christian Friends; or with a pleasing sent

Perfume Gods house, or beautifie, or cheere

My soule, which else would rude, and sad appeare▪

When this I meane; I paint out ev'ry Tho…ght,

As to my heart I feele it to be brought:

I t…eat of things, as cause conduces to them,

And as occasions, unto me, doe show them.

Some…imes, I …rom the matter seeme to goe,

For purposes, which none but I may know

Sometime, an usefull Flow'r I may forget;

Anon, into my Nosegay, I doe set

Some other twice; becau…e, perchance, the place

Affo…ds it better use, or better g…ace.

A… one conceit I seriously pursue,

That, brings perhaps another to my view,

And that another; and that, many a one,

Which if in M…thods Allies I had gone,

Ha…, peradventure, …lse remain'd unseene;

And, in my Gar…and might have missed beene.

E're I my pen assume, I feele the motions

Of doing somewhat, and have gen'rall notions

O… what I purpose: But, Mogul doth know

As well as I, what path my Mus… will goe.

What, in particular, I shall expresse,

I know not (as I hope for hap…inesse)

And though my matter, when I first begin,

Will hardly fill one p…ge; yet being in,

Me thinks, if neither faintnesse, friends▪ nor night,

Disturbed me, for ever I could wri…e.

VponUpon an in…tant I oft feele my brest

With infinite variety possest;

And such a troup of things together throngs,

Within my braine; that, had … twenty tongues

I shou…d (wh…lst I assai… to utter it)

Twice more, then I could mention, quite forget.

A hundred Masings, which I meane to say,

Before I can expresse them, slip away;

Which to recall, although I much endever,

Oft passe out of my memory, for ever;

And cary forth (ev'n to the wo…lds …arre end)

Some other thoughts, which did on them depend.

Whilst I my pen am dipping downe in inke,

That's lost which next to tell you I did thinke;

And, somewhat instantly doth follow on,

Which till that present, I ne're thought upon.

This, fo…ceth me those Methods to forgoe,

Which others in their Poems fancy so.

This makes me …i…th to my Concep…ions give,

As fast as they the…r Beings doe receive.

Left whilst I for the common Midwife …ary,

The fl…tting is…ue of my braine miscary.

And, howsoe're they please to censu…e me,

Who but Stepfathers to their Poemes be;

This, is that way of uttrance that e…ch Muse

Makes practice of, whom Nature …o…h infu…e:

And, warrant from th…ir Naturall strai…es do…h fet▪

Whom Artifi…iall Poets counterfeit.

These a…e true Raptures; …h…irs are imitations,

Or, rather, of old Rap…u…es ▪ new Translations.

Thi… Method long agoe, old Moses used,

When God …is Hymne of …raise, to h…m in…used.

Thus, Solomon hi… Song of Songs, compased:

And, when thy sin…er, …s…el, was disposed

To praise the Lord or sp…a…e …nto his God,

O… ven… his passiens in a mou…u…l Ode,

In thi… contemned wi…e, from him did flow,

Those heav'nly Raptur…s which we honor so.

As God's good Spirit cary'd him along,

So vary'd he, the m…tter of ea…h Song.

Now prayes; straight praiseth; instantly l…menteth;

Then halfe d…spaires; is by and by contented;

The pe…son of the changeth; oft …epeate…h

One sentence; and one su…t oft iter…teth.

Which manner of expression, s…emes to some

So methodlesse, and so to wander from

A certainty, in what he did intend,

That they his well-knit Raptures discommend,

As broken and di… jointed; when, indeed,

From ignorance (or from their little heed

To such exp…essions, and such mysteries)

Their cau…elesse disesteeme, did first a…ise.

Yea, Ignorance, not knowing what they meant,

When such an uncouth p…th the Muses w…nt;

Was wont (long since) to call our soule-rapt straines,

Poetick Furíes: And that Name remaines.

Yet, this old tr…ct I follow; this I use;

And, this no true-borne Poe… ▪ can refuse.

My scope, I ever keepe, in all my Layes;

Which is, to please, and profit, to Gods praise:

But, in one path, or in one pace to ride,

It is not fi… a P… should be ty'd.

Sometime he must be grave; lest else, the wi…e

The m…tter, or the m…ner, may despise.

Sometime he must en…evor to be plaine,

Lest all that he d…ivers be in vaine:

Another wh…le, he Parables must use,

And …iddl…s, lest some should the truth abuse,

And th…y that are the Nymrods of the times

Grow mad, in slead of leaving oft their crimes.

Sometime he must be pleasing, le…t he may

Drive all his frow…rd Re…ders quite away.

Sometimes he must have bu…er stroine…, to keepe

T…e sullen Reader f…om a drow…ie sleepe;

And whip those wantons, from an evill course,

That, without wa…ning, would be dai…y worse.

Sometimes againe, he must be somewhat merry,

Lest Fooles, of good instruction, should be weary.

Yea, he to all men all things should become,

That he, of many, might a…vantage some.

This, m…kes me chang… the Person, and the Style,

And vary from the matter, other while.

Thi…, makes me mix… smal things, and great together;

Here, I am grave; there, play I with a fea…her.

One page, doth make some Reader halfe beleeve,

That I am angry: In the next, I give

The C…ilde an Aple. In one leaf…, I ch…de;

I somewhat in another doe provide,

To helpe excuse those …railties I …eproved:

And those excus…s, are in place …emoved,

From such reproofes; left following on too nigh,

Th… Che…k, might without heed, be p…ssed by.

This course b…c…me… the Muses. This doth save

Our …ines from just reproofe, when Tyrants rave

At our free Numbers: and when Fooles condemne

Our Straine…, because they understand not them.

Such Po…fie is right: and, therefore▪ they

Who study matter, …nd what words to say,

Doe falsly arrogate to be inspired;

Since, when they boast their soules are this way fired,

It is but Wine, or Passion ma…es them rave:

And thence the Muses their disgraces have.

Most times, when I compose, I watch, and fast.

I cannot find my Spirits, when I taste

Of meats and drinks; nor can I write a line,

Sometime, should I but take one draught of wine.

Men say, it makes a Poet, and doth warme

His braine, and him with strong invention arme.

No m…vell then, that most doe reckon me

For none, who of this Age the Poets be;

And▪ that so …nviously at me they strike,

For they and I are not inspir'd alike.

In such like workes as these, if I should fill

My head, my Muse would have an empty qu…ll;

And▪ that w…ich to expresse she then presumes,

Would smother'd be, with vapourings and fumes.

But, when those write; thēselves they first make mery

With Claret, with Canary, or with Sherry.

And these are sure the Deities which make

A sensuall eare, of them, best liking take.

When such as they reprove a sinfull State,

Or would those great enormities relate,

Wherein their times offend; they may be brough…

To question for it; and it may be thought

Their sple…ne, revenge, or envy, did incite

Their braines to hammer, what their pens did write,

Because they did premeditate, and straine

Their faculties, their projects to attaine.

But, when a man one Subject purposing,

Sits downe to write it, and another thing

(Vnthought upon before) qu…te thrusteth out

That matter which at fi…st he went about:

When he remembers, that nor spight, nor spleene,

No… envy, hath his primus motor beene:

When he perceives, nor dangers, nor disgrac…

Can fright him, when such Raptures are in place:

When he doth find, that with much ease & pleasure

He utters what exceeds the common measure

Of his owne Gifts: …nd that (although his Rimes

Are none of those strong lines that catch the times)

They from the V…rtuous, good respect can draw,

And keepe the proudest vitious-men in awe:

What should he thinke, but that the pow'r of God

Ins…ireth him, to show his will abroad?

What nee… he feare, but, most undantedly,

Make use of his inspired Facultie?

No arrogance it were, if he, or I,

Should say that God our pe…s had spoken by,

To those we live among, since, we might say,

He speak…s by all his creatures, ev'ry …ay:

Yea, since in elder times it came to pass…,

That he declar'd his pleasure by an …sse.

What should we do but speak, when we are willed?

What can we doe but speake when we are filled?

While wicked men we do… remaine among,

With David, w… a while may curb the tongue;

But, burne it will within us, ti…l we speake,

And forth, at last, some thundring voice will breake▪

And what should then our hearers doe, but learne

Their errors, by our Poems, to disce…ne?

Why should they raile at u…, who neither fea…e

Then fury, nor for all their threatnings care?

Why doe they, childishly, our Lines condemne,

That strike but at their sollies, not at them?

Why, so unjustly still, are we pursued,

Who shew them ho…v their falls may be eschewed?

And why doe they by seeking of our shame,

Encrease our glor…es, and themselves defame?

Whence comes all this, but from that sot…i…hnesse

Which doth most people of this age possesse?

But, let these questions passe; lest by degrees,

They draw us on, untill our ma…ke we leese.

Thus far my Muse hath wilfully digrest,

And of he… purpose, now she vents the …est.

When divers weeks together … had wasted

In vi…wing th…se afflictions others tasted;

When day by day, … long had walkt abroad,

Beholding how the scou…ging hand of God,

Afflict…d other men, and how, each morning

My going out, and …ow my b…ck …etu…ning,

Was ev'ry night in safety; I be…an

Gods care and my unworthinesse to scan.

And, 'twas, me thought, a favour, w…ich required

To be both much acknowledg'd, and …dmi…ed;

That (when so many houses, …v'ry day,

Were visited) t…e place wherein I lay

Stood free so long; co…sidering we were many,

And, then, …esorted to, as much as any.

But, th…re was somewhat needfull to be knowne,

Which no mans griefe could … me but mine own.

And, that I migh… thereof in…ormed be,

God sent at last his Iudgements home to me.

Y…a, peradventure, in my soule he saw

Some …ailings of my former filiall awe;

Some thanklesnesse; some inward pride of heart;

Or over-ween…ng of mine owne desert,

Arising from the mercifull protection

W…ic… he vouchsafed me from this In…ction;

And t…erefore sent as my Reme…bra…cer,

His dread…ull, and his bloody Messenger

To t…ke his lodging, where my lodgings were;

And put his rage in execu…ion there.

For, in upon us, that Contagion broke,

Five soules out of our Gate, it quickly tooke,

And left …nother wounded; that I might

Conceive my danger, and Gods love, a…ight.

It fell about the time in which their sum

Who weekly died, to the full was come:

Then, when infection to such height was growne,

That many dropped on a sudden downe

In ev'ry street: yea, when some fooles did tell

The lying Fables of the Falling-B…ll

At Westminster; and how that then did flye

No Bird through Londons ayre which did not dye.

Ev'n then it was. And, though some few did please,

By such like tales, and strange Hyperboles,

To overstraine the stories of our so…row:

They did but needlesly their fictions borrow

To set it forth. Nay, their false rumors made

Our woes appeare lesse great, then those we had.

Till now, I made th… smart o… othe…s knowne:

The Griefes I next will tell you, are mine owne.

At fi…st, I stood as one who f…om a Towre▪

Beholding how the swo…d doth such …evo…e

(Who in the streets beneath him fig…ti…g be)

Accounts himselfe from danger to be free.

But, at the last, I fared, as it fares

With such, whose Foes have made, at unawares,

A breach upon their Bulw…rke; and I stood

No meane assaults, to make my standing stood.

For, both within me, and without me, too,

I had enough, and full enough to doe.

No sooner to my Chamber was I gone,

But, I was follow'd straight, and set upon

By strong Assailants, who did much intrude,

And much disease me, by their multitude.

My Reason, who to Faith did lately stoop,

Revolted, and brought on a mighty troup

Of trayt'rous Arguments, whereby she thought,

On this my disadvantage, to have wrought.

Temptations, slye-Suggestions, Feare, and Doubt,

Did undermine, and close me, round about.

My Conscience did begin to be afraid

My Faith had beene a false one; who betraid

My Soule to Death: and (whether then it were

The pow'r of strong I…fection, or else Feare,

Occasion'd by those combatings within,

Or both together) I did then begin

To finde my body weakned more and more,

And felt those pangs, till then unfel… before.

Ev'n many dayes together, so it fared:

And sure, if Superstition could have scared

My better setled heart, there hapned that,

Which I had fear'd, and somewhat startled at:

And (though I never outwardly complained

To any one, of that which I sustained)

That week, in which our house was visited,

And made complete the number of her dead;

I had a sleeplesse night; in which with heat

Opprest, I purged out (in stead of swear)

Round-rud…y-spots (and, that, no little store)

Which on my brest, and shoulders, long I wore.

Perhaps, it was the Pestilence, which then

So ma…ked me▪ and I, as other men,

By her had beene devour'd, had I not

Through Gods great mercy, my free pardon got.

Which, how, and on what termes, the same I gain'd,

I…e now declare. For, though they seeme but fain'd▪

Or melancholy thoughts, which here I tell;

Yet, sure, to smother them, I did not well.

For, some, perhaps will thinke (as well as I)

That none should sleightly passe such musings by:

And some (who at first viewing will surmise,

That in these things I meerly poetise)

VVill find, perchance, in times that shall ensue,

Expe…imentall proofe, that all is true;

Should D…rk…esse, where her visage, Danger, showes,

(…t such a disadvantage) them enclose.

VVhen all alone I lay, and apprehended,

How many mischiefes my poo…e soule attended;

I plainly saw (…hough not with ca…nall eyes)

God's dreadfull Angell, ready to su…prise

My trembling soule; and ev'ry hideo…s feare,

VVhichWhich can to any naturall man appeare,

(In such a case, to aggrava…e his terror)

Approacht, with ev'ry circumstance of horror.

I …aw the Muster of each passed evill,

And all my youthfull follies, by the Devill

Brought in against me, marshall'd▪ and prepared,

To fight the battell which I long had feared.

And such a mult…tude of them sur…ounded

My Conscience, that I was almost con…ounded.

A thousand sinnes appear'd which were forgot,

And which I till that moment minded not,

Since first committed; and more ugly far

They seem'd, then when they perp…trated were.

Yea many things whereof I bragg'd, and thought

That I, in doing them, some good h…d wrought,

Declar'd themselves against me; and I found

That they did give my soule the deepest wound.

VVhen these had quite enclosed me, I saw

The Tables, and the Volumes of the Law ▪

To me laid open: and I was, me thought,

Befo…e the presence of God's Iustice brought,

VVho from her eye did frownes upon me dart,

And se…med, thus to speake unto my heart.

(Oh! Readers marke it well; fo… to this D…ome,

O… to a worse then this, you all must come.

Suppose thou not, vaine man, thou dost possesse

This lif… till now, for thine owne righteousnesse,

Or that thou merit…st mo…e grace to have

Then they who now are sent to fill the Grave:

Lo, here, thy Foe hath brought of thy offences

An Army, and so many evidences

Of thy Corruption; that, plead what thou wilt

Of merit in thy …elfe, th…y prove a guilt

So hainous, that thy soule thou canst not free:

Yet other sinfull thoughts of thine I see.

I search thy heart, and … discover there

Deceits, which cannot to thy selfe appeare▪

I know thy many secret imperfections,

I know thy passions, and t…y vaine affections;

And, that performances thou hast not made

According to those favo…rs thou hast b…d.

Vaineglory, profit, or some carnall end,

Thy best endeavor alw…yes did attend;

And, as distrusting, God would thee beguile,

An arme of fl…sh thou se…kest otherwhile:

Not as the second, but the chiefest Cause:

Which from the glory of thy God withdrawes.

Mine eye doth see what arrogance and pride

Thou dost among thy f…irest vertues hide;

And, what impieties, thou shouldst have done,

Had I not stopt the course thou though…st to run.

Of… …mes, when others Vices, thou hast showne,

Thou hast forgotten to repent thine owne.

And, many times, thy ta…t reproofes have beene

The fruits, not of thy Vertue, but of Spleene.

Thy wanton Lus…s (b…t that I did restraine

Their f…ry, when thou w…uldst have slackt the Reine)

Had horne thee he…dlon to those deeds …f shame,

With which thy evill willers blur thy Name.

Shouldst thou have done the best that thou wert able,

Thy services had beene unprofitable:

But, thou scarce h…lfe thy Talent hast employ'd;

And, that small good thou didst, is nigh destroy'd,

By giving some occasion, needlesly,

Of questio…ing thy true sincerity.

God of… hath hid thy frailties, and thy sinne,

Which being knowne, would thy d…sgrace have bin.

The show of Wit and Vertue, thou hast had,

He, to the world more eminent hath made,

Then theirs, who wiser, and much better are,

Though outward helpes, and fortunes, wanting were▪

And, though thy knowledge, and thy former Layes,

Among your formall Wizzards got no praise,

Yet what they co…nted foolishnesse, became

A greater honor to thy sleighted Name,

Then they obtained: And, that Grace (I see)

Begot more pride, then thankefulnesse in thee:

And, I was faine, to let some scandals flye,

To teach unto thee, more h…mility.

In all thy wants, thou still hast beene relieved;

From heav'n thou comfort hadst, whē thou w…rt grieved▪

When Princes threatned, thou wert fearlesse made;

In all thy dangers, thou a Guard hast had;

In closest prison, thou best freedome gainedst;

In great contempts, thou most esteeme obtainedst;

When, most thy fo…s did labour to undoe thee,

They brought most honour, and most profit to thee.

Yea, still when thy destruction was expected,

Then, God, thy peace beyond thy hope, effected.

And, in the stead of praising him for this,

Thou robdst him of much honour that was his.

Tho… w…rt content, to heare the Vulgar say,

Thy Spirit, and thine Innocence made way

To …y escape. Whereas, thy …ons…ience kn…w

Thou wert a …oward, till God …id …n…ue

Thy heart with Fortitude, and f…ely gave thee

That innocency which from harme d…d save thee.

When God thy Na…e div…lg'd for some good end,

(Which his w…se P…ovidence a…d soreintend)

Thou took'st the glory of it for thi… …wne,

And, justly, therefore thy so being knowne,

Hath beene a m…n…s whereby t…y Fo… h…ve sent

Their sc…ndal f…r…her, then they else ha… went.

As soon… as, God from trouble …id release thee,

(O…, but w…th …pes of ou…w…rd things possesse thee)

Some fruitlesse thoughts d…d quit… thy heart estrange,

And after such vaine Project …ake thee range,

That he was o…t compeld to put thee …rom

Those blessi…g…, which … to thy lips were come;

Lest, being then unseas'na…ly received,

Thou mightst of better thing… have beene …ere…ved▪

F…w men so nigh g…eat Hopes attained …ver▪

With such small fortunes and w…thout en…eavor,

As thou hast done▪ and f…we… ha…e beene crost▪

That way (which thou h…s… been…) in what was lost;

That see and kn…w thou mightst, such losse and gaine,

He sent; and, that he neither sent in vaine.

Yea, that those evils which thou h…dst in thought,

Should scape the being into action brough…,

Ill …ong…es w…e stirred to prevent the f…ct,

By blazing what was never yet in act:

Bu…, might have beene, perhaps▪ had not that er…ed

Thy heart▪ whereby t…y foes would thee h…ve harmed.

Thou to refresh thy soule h…st pleas…res had,

And tho… by their abuse, hast f…bl…r ma…e

H…r use…ll F…culties. Thou hast …nj…yed

Youth, strength, an… health; and▪ them hast mis employed.

Thy God hath made thee gracious in their eyes,

Whose good esteeme, thy soule doth highly prise;

And (of ill purpose though Il… not condem…e

Thy love, or meaning, to thy selfe or them)

Thou hast full often stole their hearts away,

Ev'n from themselves; and made thine owne a prey

To many passions ▪ which did sometimes bring

VponUpon your s…lves, a mutuall torturing:

Because you did not in your loves propose

Those ends, for which, Affection, God bestowes.

But, spent your houres (that should have beene employ'd

To learne and teach how you should have enjoy'd

Gods love) that flame, to kindle, in each other▪

Wherein, you might have perished together.

Thou aggravated hast thy pard'ned crimes,

And, it…rated them, a thousand times.

Ev'n yet, thou dost renew them ev'ry day;

And when for Mercy thou dost come to pray,

Thou meri…est confusion, through that folly,

Which makes thy prayers to become unholy.

Nay, at this time, and in this very place,

Where God in Iudgement stands before thy face,

Thou oft forgetst the danger thou art in;

Forgetst Gods mercy, and dost hourely sin.

Thou dost neglect thy time, and trifle out

Those dayes, that should have beene employ'd about

The service of th… Maker. Thou dost give

Thy selfe that liberty, as if to live

Or dye, were at thy choice▪ and that at pleasure,

Thou mightst pursue his worke; and at thy leasu….

Thy Talent thou mis-spendst; and here, as though

To looke upon Gods Iudgements were enough

For thee to doe; thou dost with negligence

Performe thy vowes; which adde to thy offence.

And loe, for these thy faults, and many moe;

Whereof thy Conscience thee doth guilty know,

My spotted-Hound hath seized thee: from whom,

That thou with life shouldst …eene have to come,

What canst thou say ▪ I could not make reply;

For, Feare, and Guilt, and that dread Majesty

Which I had apprehended, tooke away

My speach; and not a word had I to say.

But Mer…y who came arme in arme along

With Iusti…e, and about her alwayes hung;

Did looke, me thought, upon me with an eye

So truly pitifull, that instantly

My heart was cheer'd, and (Mercy prompting her)

Such words, or thoughts as these she did p…efer.

Tis true most awfull Iustice, that my sin

Hath greater then thine accusations bin▪

The most refined actions of my soule,

Are in thy presence, horrible and foule.

And if thou take account of what is done,

I cannot of ten thousand answer one.

As soone as I am cl…sed from my sinne,

To saile my selfe anew▪ I doe begin.

I to my vomit, like a Dog, retire,

And like a Sow, to wall…w in t…e mire.

I have within my soule, distempers, passions;

And hourely am besieg'd with strong temptations.

My Flesh is weake, except it be to sin;

My …pirit faints, when I the goale should winne.

My Will …ff…cteth most, what is most vaine;

My Memory doth …vill best retaine.

That little good … would, I cannot doe;

Those evil… I detest, I fall into.

The vapours whi…h from earthly things arise,

Too often veile heav'ns glories f…om min… eyes.

And I, who can sometimes by contemplation,

Advance my soule above the common station,

(The world contemning) do… sometime… agen

Lye groveling on the ground with other men:

My Faith doth faile; my mounting wings are clipt;

Of all my braveries I quite …n stript▪

My hopes are hid; my sins doe me defile;

And in my owne esteeme, …y soule is vile.

I will acknowledge all my aherrations,

According to their utmost a gravations;

And here consesse, that I deserve th…refore

The losse of Mercies love for evermore;

Which were a greater plague, then to abide

All torments here, and all hell plagues beside.

But, I repent my sinne: loe, I abhore it,

And, with my heart, am truly sory for it.

I feare thine anger, (but, to feare the love

Of Mercy could be lost, would in me prove

A greater horror) and no slavish dread,

But loving feare, this griefe in me hath bred.

It paines my soule, that I who have conceived

Such pleas…re in thy favours, and received

Such to ens of thy love, from day to day,

Should passe a moment of my time away

In any va…i…y; or live to be

One minutes space without a thought of thee.

But, more I grieve, that I should more …ransgresse

Then many doe, whom thou hast favour'd lesse.

Although I am a sinner▪ yet I vow,

I doe not in my soule my sinnes allow;

But, I d…t…st them, and oft p…ay, and strive,

That, I accord…n… to thy Law may live.

(At least I thinke I doe) and hopefull am,

My love to thee is true, though much to blame.

In me there how rely rise (against my will)

Those lusts which I should mortifie and kill:

And as I am enabled, I doe smite

As well the fat, as leane Amalekite.

But, if I have a sin that is become

My Ag…g; or as deare as Absolom,

I wish a Samuel, or a loab may

Destroy it e're my soule it shall betray.

For, if my heart hath not it selfe deceived,

It would, wi…h willingnesse, be quite bereaved

Of what it most affects (yea, sacrifice

That which is dear…r then my hands, or e…es)

E're cher…sh, wittingly, w…thin my bre…,

A thought, which thy uprightn…sse doth detest.

Thou knowest, that I take no pleasure in

That act which I doe feare to be a sin:

Much lesse if I doe k…ow i… so: and, this

Doth bitt…r make it, when I doe amisse.

Though in my wayes my walkings, now and then,

Appeare irregular to other men;

(And other while may shewes of evill make)

Because from thence offences others take,

Yet, thought I not, it lesse offended thee

To use it, then unus'd to let it be,

I would not tread once more in such a path,

To save my life, and all the joy it hath.

But, should it cost my life I canno… tell

If (in some actions) I doe ill or well.

For, many times, when I doe se…ke to shun

A plash, into a whirlepoole I doe run.

The Wolfe I flye, and loe, a Lyon frights me;

I shun the Lyon, and a Viper bites me.

A scandall followes, if I take my course;

If I divert it, there … a worse.

If I persist in that which I intend,

It giveth some occasion to offend:

If I forgoe it; my owne knowled esayes

I fin, and scandall give some other wayes.

I find not in my actions, or affections

That thing that is not full of imperfections.

I cannot doe a good or pious act

But there is somewhat evill in the fact,

Or in the manner; and it either …ends

To this mans d…mmage, or that man offends,

Whatever I resolve upon, I finde

It doth not fully satisfie my minde.

I am so straitned, that I know not whence

To finde the meanes of shunning an offence;

And, if deare Mercy, thou assist me not,

My fairest act will prove my foulest blot.

The Wo…ld, our Fri…nd…, our Passion, or our Feare,

Hath so intangled us, at unaware,

With manifold engagements; and so drawes

And win…es us, by degrees, into that Maze

Of endlesse Wandrings; that it leads us to

That sin, sometimes, wh…ch we abhor to doe:

And, otherwhile so strangely giddifies

The Reason, and the soules best Faculties;

That (as I said before) we doe not know

What in our selves to b…ke, or disallow.

Yea, we such turnings and crosse wayes doe finde,

That of…, our Guides (as well as we) …e blinde.

The Spi…it and the Flesh have their delight,

In things, so diverse, and so opposite;

And, such a Law of sinne doth still abide

With…n our Members; that, we swarve aside

Doe what we can: and, while we helpe the one,

To what seemes needfull, th' ot… is undone.

If by the Spirits motion, I proc…ed

To compasse what I thinke my Soule may need,

My Body wants the while; and I am faine

To leave my course, that her I may sustaine:

L…ft my engagements, or necessities,

Might my well meant endeavor scandalize.

If I but feed my Body, that it may

Assist my Spirit in some lawfull way;

It straight growes wanton: If I fast, it makes

My spirit faint in what she undertakes:

And, if I keepe a meane; meane fruits are they,

(And little worth) which then produce I may.

If in a Christi…n love some houres I spend

To be a comfort to some female friend,

Who needs my counfell: I doe cause, …he while,

Another with hot jealousies, to boyle:

Nor know I how my selfe excuse I may

Vnlesse anothers weaknesse I display.

Which if I doe not, or some lye invent,

They censure me unkinde, or impudent.

I can nor doe, nor speake, nor thinke that thing;

But, still, some inconvenience it will …ring;

Or, some occasion of anevill, be

To me, or others; or to them, and me.

And from the body of this Death, by whom

But, by my Saviour, can I freed become?

Oh! therefore, sweet Redeemer, succour lend me,

And, from these bogs, and s…ares of sin, defend me▪

Deare God, assist in these perplexities,

Which from our fraile condition doe arise.

S…t straight, I pray thee, Lord, …he crookednesse

Oferring Nature; and these faults redresse.

So out of frame, is ev…ry thing, in me,

That, I can hope for cure, from none, but thee.

To thee I ther…fore kneele; to thee I pray;

To thee my soule complaineth; ev'ry day:

Doe thou but say, Be whole; or be thou cleane;

And, I shall soone be pure, and sound, agen.

The Will thou gav…st me, to affect thy Will,

Though it continue not so perfect still,

A… when thou first bestow'dst the same; accept it,

Ev'n such as my polluted Vessell kept it.

For▪ though it wounded be, through many fights

Continu'd with my carnall appetites:

Yet, i… my h…arts desire to me be knowne,

Thy Pleasure I preferre before min… ow…e.

If I could chuse, I would not guil…y be

Of any …ct di…pl…asing unto thee.

In all my life, I would not sp…ke a word,

But, th…t which to thy lik…ng might accord.

I woul… not thinke a thought but w…at might fhow,

That f…om thy Spirit, all …y …usings flow.

I would nor hate, nor love, nor hope, nor feare,

But as unto thy praise it usefull were.

I would not have a joy within my heart,

Of which thou should…t not be the greater part.

Nor would I live or dye, or happy be

In life or death; but (Lord) to honour thee.

Oh! let this Will (which is the precious seed

Of thine o…e Love) be taken for the deed.

Assist thou m… against the potent evill

Of my great Foes, the World, the Flesh, the Devill.

Renew my fainting pow'rs, my heart revive;

Refresh my spirits, and my soule relieve.

Lord draw me, by the cords of thy affection,

And I shall fall in love with thy perfection.

Vnloose my chaines, and I shall then be free;

Convert me, and converted I shall be.

Yea, to my soule (oh God!) and to my senses

Display thy beautie and thy exc…lencies

So plaine, that I may have them still in sight;

And thou shalt ever be my sole delight.

The world though she should into pieces teare me

With troubles; from thy love should never scare me;

Nor …ble be to tempt me from one duty

To …he, with all her pleasure and her beauty.

Behold; I came to seeke thee, Lord; ev'n here,

Where, to attend thy presence most men feare.

Though here I saw the Pestilence withstand me,

I stand to know what worke thou wouldst command me.

From all the pleasures of the world, and from

H…r hopes of safety, I am b…her come

Where thou art angry: and to see thy frowne

Am at thy feet, with terror, fallen downe.

Yet, hence I would not flye (although I might)

To gaine the chiefest of this worlds delight,

Till I perceive thou bidd…st me goe away;

And, then, for twenty wo…lds, I would not stay.

I came as heartily as fl…sh and blood

Could come (that hath in it so little good)

To doe thee service: and, if dye I must▪

Loe, here I am; and, I pronounce thee just.

Although thou sl…y me yet my soule well knowes

Thou lov…st me: And Ile trust in thee repose.

Though in my selfe I feele I am polluted;

I finde a better righteousnesse imputed

Then I have lost. Thy blessed Love doth fill me

With joyes, that will rev…ve me, though thou kill me.

My sins are great; …ut thy compassion's greater.

I ha…e thy Quittance, though I am thy Debtor.

And, though my temp'rall hopes may be destroid▪

Yet, I have those, that never shall be void.

Thus, to the Lord, my soule I powred out,

When I with d…ngers wa… enclos'd about;

And though I was a sinner, this appeased

His wrath in Ch…ist, a…d my g…iev'd soule was eased▪

He graciously accepted, in good part,

This poore oblation of an humbled heart.

His Mercy se…l'd my pardon; and I shook

The Pestilence (which hold upon me tooke)

From off my shoulder, without sense of harme,

As Paul did shake the Viper from his arme.

That weeke, moreover, God beg…n to slack

His Bow, and call his bloody Angell backe;

VVho by degrees retyr'd, as he came on.

For, weeke by weeke, untill it f…ll to none,

The number which the Pestilence did kill,

VVas constantly, and much abated still.

VVhen we were fleating on that Inundation,

At first we sent a carnall Lamentation;

VVhichWhich like the Raven (…rom Noahs Arke) did flye,

And found nor rest▪ nor hope of remedy.

Then sent we D…ve-like Mournings: but th… feet

A while could with no resting places mee…

Then forth againe we sent them, out from …ence

VVing'd with mo…e Charity, and Penitence.

And then, they brought an Olive-b…anch of peace,

VVhichWhich made us hopefull of this Floods decrease.

The Lord did favour to this Kingdome daigne,

And, brought from thrall, his Iacob, back againe.

His peoples crimes he freely did release;

His ir… abated; his hot rage did cease.

His praise had in our Land a dwelling place;

And Mercy there, with Iustice did embrace.

And 'twas a grace to be considered,

That a Disease, so generally spred,

(And so contagious) in few weeks should from

So many thousands, to a cypher come.

That our infectious beds, and roomes, and stuffe▪

(VVhichWhich in all likelyhood had beene enough

To keepe the Plague among us, till it had

Our Cities, and our Townes unpeopled made,

Should from their noy…omnesse, so soone be …r…ed▪

Is out of doubt a matter worth our heed.

Yea, tis a Mer…y (though most mind it not)

VVhichWhich in this Land should never be forgot:

That from an enemy so dangerous,

So great a City and so populous

Should in three months be purified so,

That all men might with safety, come and goe.

For, e're the following Winter was expired,

The Citizens were to their homes retired:

The Terme from Reading, was recalled hither,

From ev'ry Quarter, Clients came together;

New trading was begun; another brood

Soone fild the houses which unpeopled …ood;

Our Gentry, tooke up their old rendevow;

And such a concourse through our streets did flow,

That ev'ry place was fill'd: and, of all those,

(Those many thousands) who their lives did lose

(But some …ew mon…hs before) no want was found,

The people ev'ry where did so abound.

To thee oh Lord, to thee oh Lord! be praise:

For, thou dost wound and cure, strike down and raise

Thou kill'st, and mak'st alive: thou frownst at night,

And, thou art pleased e're the morning light.

VVhen we offend thee, thou a while dost leave us▪

VVhen we repent, thou dost againe receive us.

To ruine thou deliver'st us; and then,

R…turne againe (thou saift) ye sonnes of men.

For, in thy wisedome thou considered hast▪

That man is like a bubble, or a blast:

A heape of Dust, a tuft of wither'd Grasse,

A fading F…owre, that soone away doth passe:

A Moment fled, which never shall retire;

Or smoaking Flaxe, that quickly loseth fire.

An idle …reame, which nothing doth betoken;

A bruised Reed, which may with ease be broken:

And therefore …ost in Iudgement, Mercy minde,

Yea, in thy greatest anger thou art kinde.

As is the space twixt heav'n a…d ea…th, above,

So large, to those that feare thee, is thy love.

As far …s doth from È…st, the West …eside,

So f…r thou d…st from us our sins divide.

Such a… a father to his childe doth beare,

S…h love is thine, to those who thee do feare.

T…y Iustice thou fro… …ge to age declarest;

But, such as love thee, thou for ever sparest.

I thou but turne away from us, thy face,

Loe, we are breath…esse in a moments space.

Thy looke doth us with life againe endue,

And all our losses instantly renew.

As oft as we rebell, thou dost forgive us;

And though into dist…esse, sometime, thou drive us;

Yet, alwa…es in our sorrowes we were eyed,

And thou didst please to heare us when we cried.

With t…rst and hunger faint, some stray'd aside,

To seeke a place where safe they might abide.

With, worse then bands of iron, they were chained,

And in the gloomy sh…des of D…ath detained.

With h… and …ick…esse▪ they dejected were;

And to deliver them; no helpe was there.

Their wickedness… when they were plagued for,

Their soules th… sweetest mor…ls did abhor.

They for their follies, did afflicted lye,

And, to the gates of Death approached nigh.

Their soules within them were nigh dead with feare;

Yea, they distracted, and amazed were.

But, when to thee they called, they were eased,

And out of all their troubles quite released.

Thou sent'st abroad thy Word, and they were healed;

Thy Wr…t of Indignation was repealed

Frō out of Death's black shades t…ey were reprieved;

And in their sorrowes and their paines relieved

From East and West, from North & South, and from

Their sev'rall wandrings, thou shalt call them home▪

In ev'ry quarter of the Realme thou soughtst …hem;

Yea to their City back againe thou broughtst them:

And there (now) joy…u…l, and in health they be;

From all their feares, and all their dangers free.

Oh▪ would that men this love would think upon,

And tell their seed what wonders thou hast done:

Would they, Oblations, of thanksgiving, bringing,

Thy works would praise, and publish them, in singing.

Oh! would they were so wise that they might lea…ne

Thine infinite compassion to discerne;

And that they would assist me to declare,

How grea… thy Iudgements and thy Mercies are!

Though none can of thy favours make relation,

Nor fully utter all thy commendation;

Yet, let us doe our best, that we may raise

A thankfull Trophee to thy boundlesse praise.

Let us, whom thou hast saved, thee con…esse.

And to our utmost pow'r t…y goodnesse blesse.

Let us proclaime thy bounties, in the street,

And, preach thee where ou… Congregations meet.

Let us in private, at noone, morne, and night,

And in all pl…ces, in thy praise delight.

Let Prince, and Priest, and People, old, and yong,

The rich, the poore, the feeble, and the strong,

Men, Angels, and all creatures that have name,

Vnite their pow'rs, to publish out thy fame.

But, howsoever, others may endevor,

Let me oh! God, let me oh God! persever

To magnifie thy glory. Let nor day,

Nor any morne, or evening, passe away,

In which I shall not to remembrance bring

Thy Iudgements; and of thy great Mercy, sing.

Let, never whilst I live, my heart forget

Those Dangers, and that strong entangled Net,

In which my soule was hamper'd. Let me see

(When, in this world, I shall best pleased be)

My dangers such appearing as they were,

When me, they …ound about enclosed here:

Yea, when, o'rewhelm'd, with terrors, I did call,

Like Ionas, from the belly of the Whale,

And was deliver'd. Lord, remember thou,

That with unfainednesse, I beg thee, now,

To keepe me alwayes mind…ull of thy love.

And, if herea…ter, I forgetfull prove;

Let this unfainednesse which thou dost give,

An Earnest be, of what I shall receive

In time to come Refresh my cooled zeale,

And let thy Spirit, thy hid Love reveale.

Let nor the fawning World, nor cunning Devill,

Nor wanton Flesh, incite my heart to evill.

Let not my wand…ing eyes, be tempted by

Those Objects that a…lure to Vanity;

Nor let my eares be charmed by their tongues,

Wh… to betray me, chant out Syren-songs.

Let me nor taste a Pleasure, nor obtaine

That carnall Rest, whereof I am so faine▪

Till it shall make me plainly to perceive

Thy love▪ and teach me, foolish paths, to leave.

Let me be still in want; and ever striving

With some affl…ctions (whilst that I am living)

Till they for better Fortunes, better me:

And, then, let into Rest, my entrance be.

From yeare to yeare, (as thou hast yearly done)

New sorrowes, and new trials bring thou on

My stubborne heart, till thou hast softned it,

And▪ made it, for thy service, truly fi…:

Bu…, give me hopes, and daily comforts too,

To strengthen me, as thou hast us'd to doe.

And, that, in Iustice, Mercy may appeare,

Inflict (Oh Lord!) no more then I can beare.

I feele (and tremble that I feele it thus)

My flesh hath f…ailties which are dangerous,

To mine owne safety: and as soone as thou

Shalt quite remove the feares that seize me now;

My sense of thee, and those good thoughts (I doubt)

May faile within me, or be rooted out.

Some L…st may quēch them, or some Care may choke them,

Vaine ho…s may vaile thē or new-thoughts revoke thē;

The wisdome of the world, or of the Devill,

Or, some suggestion, in my selfe, that's evill,

May urge, perhaps, that it is melancholy,

Whic… fills me no…; that superstitious folly

Begot this awfulnesse; that …his Disease

Did accid…nt…lly, our C…t… seize;

And, that 'tis vaine to muse so much upon

Those times or trou…les, that are past and gone.

Oh! rather, then it should in me be so,

Some other house of Sorrow send me to;

And keepe me, Lord, perpetuall pris'ner there,

Till all such dangers overpassed are.

Nor weale nor woe I crave, but part of either,

As with my tem…er best agrees together.

For, joy without …hy grace, is griefes encreasing,

And wealth is poverty, without thy blessing.

But if by passing this lifes p…rging fires,

Thou shalt so purifie my hearts desires,

That without perill to my hopes of heav'n,

A temp'rall rest may at the last be giv'n;

Vouchsafe it Lord, ev'n for the good of them

Who my best resolutions, yet, condemne.

Let the… discerne, thou blessings hast provided,

For that, which they unjustly have derided.

Thou her…tofo…e didst heare thy Servant call,

And mad'st me free when I was close in thrall.

Oh! to those …o…tals make me not a scorne,

Who to my Sham… my Glory seeke to turne:

But let it in thy time to them appeare,

That thou didst me e…ect, and me wilt heare.

Let them perceive (though they my Lott disdaine)

The promise of this Life doth appertaine

To me as unto them. And for their sakes

Whose weaknesse, otherwhile, of…ences takes

At my perpetuall scandals; let their eye

Behold the …urne of my Cap…ivity;

And know tha… I have walked in a path,

Which, in this life time, some smooth paces hath.

B…t, nought repine I, though this boone thou grant not.

For, that which thou to me deny'st I want not.

I know thy Wisedome knowes what best will fit me:

I know thy Pow'r enough those things to get me:

I know thy Love is large enough to me:

I know thy Pleasure should my pleasure be:

Thy will be done, and hallowed be thy Name,

Although it be through my perpetuall shame.

Whilst on such Meditations I was fe…ding

My pleased soule (and Gods great goodnes heeding)

That I might fill her with contemplating

On him, from whom all happinesse doth spring:

A suddaine Rapture did my Muse prepare

For higher thi…gs then she did lately dare.

Me thought, I saw Gods Iu…tice and his Love

Installed on one throne in heav'n above.

I had imperfect fights, and glimmering notions,

Concerning some of their parti…lar motions,

About this Orbe. I much perceiv'd, me thought,

O those their wondrous works w^c they had w…ough…

In former dayes. And, as within a Glasse,

Some things I saw, which they will bring to passe

In future times. By helpe of Gods great Booke,

(Which for my Ephimerides I tooke)

I had proc…r'd a large intelligence

Of Iustice and of Mercies Influence.

There, learned I theseverall Aspects,

And, of those St…ries the severall effects:

W…ile in co…juncti…n those two Lights I saw;

The best Alt…o…o…ers could never draw

From all the pl…n…t…ry Constellations

(Ev'n … …heir best) such heav'nly consolations.

I co…d conjectu…e of their wo…ke divine,

In S…xtile, or in Qu…drine, or in Trine;

And what pro…igious Plagues the world should fright

If their asp…ct were wholly Opposite.

Some things, by calculation I discerned,

Which this our British Latitude concerned;

And most of them not much impertinent

For all Mer…dians through Earths Continent.

I saw of Weale and Woe the many ranges:

I saw the restlesse Wheele of mortall changes:

I saw how Cities, Common-wealths, and Men,

Did rise and fall, and …ise and fall agen.

I saw the reason, why all Times and States,

Have such vicissitudes, and various fates.

I saw what doth occasion War, and Peace;

What causeth Dearth, and what doth bring Encrease.

I saw what hardens, and what mollifies;

And whence all Blessings, and all Plagues arise▪

I saw how sins are linked in together

As in a Chai… ; how one doth cause another;

And how to ev'ry linke throughout the Chaine,

Are fixt those Plagues which to that Crime pertaine▪

I saw un…eal'd, that hellish Mystery,

Of carnall and meere wor…dly …olicy,

Whereby the Devill fooles this generation,

And brings on Christendome such molestation.

I saw (as plaine, as ever I did see

The Sun at none) what damned projects be

Veild o're with Piety, and Holy zeale:

And how, a Christian Ath'isme now doth steale

VponUpon this age. Forgive me that I saw

A Christian Ath'isme; for, ev'n to betray

Christ Iesus, Christ and Iesus, those two Names,

Are oft usurped; and it us defames.

I saw, why some abuse their holy Calling,

And why so many Stars from heav'n are falling.

I had a Licence given me, to come

Where I might see the Dev…ls Tiring-roome,

And, all the Maskes, the Visards, and Disguises,

Which he to murther, cheat, or rob, devises.

And weares himselfe, or lends false-hearted brothers

Therewith to foole themselves, or cozen others.

Here lay a Box of zeale prof…ssing Eyes,

Which serve for acting of Hypocrisies.

Hard by, another, full of Double-hearts,

For those who play the Amb…dexters parts.

There, stood a Ch…st of counterfeited Graces;

Another, full of honest-seeming Faces.

Yo…n, hung a suit, which, had some Traytor got,

He might have pass…d for a Patriot.

Close by, were pr…ss… fuls of such suits, as they

Doe wea…e (in ev'ry Kingdome at this day)

Who passe for Statesmen; when, God knowes, they be

As far from that, as knaves from loving me.

There, hung those masking-suits, in which the Popes,

And Cardinals, pursue their carnall hopes.

There, were those fo…mall Garbs, wherein false friends

Disguise themselves, for some unfaithfull ends.

Faire counterfeits for Bishops saw I there,

So like their habits that are most sincere,

(And so be…ainted) that if they were set

VponUpon the back of our Arch counterfeit,

He could not be distinguisht from the best

O… all those Prelates, that have Christ profest.

There, view'd I all those juggling sleights with w^ch

Men worke false miracles; and, so, betwitch

Deluded soules There, saw I all the trick…

And Fa…tosmes wherewithall our Schismaticks

Abuse themselves and others. There (with ruth)

I saw false-Doctrines, t…imm'd about with Truth;

Fac'd out, with Fathers; pee…'d, and neatly dea…ned,

With Sentences, and Sayings, of the Learned.

Yea, with Gods holy Scriptures, interweaved,

So cunningly, as w…uld have nigh deceived

Ev'n hi… Elect: (and, many a one, alas,

Of these, for Christian Verities doth passe.)

I saw moreover, with what Robes of Light,

The King of Darknesse doth his person dight▪

To make it Angel like; and how he scrues

Himselfe among our musings, to abuse

Our understandings; how he layes his hooks▪

And baits, at Sermons, and in godly-books;

(Although the Authors had, in their invention,

A pious meaning, and a good intention)

I saw what venome he doth hurle into

Our heert'est prayers, and those works we doe

In purest charity: and how he strives

To poison us in our preservatives.

When all these M…skings, and a thousand moe,

My apprehensions eye had lookt into:

From thence my Con…emplation rais'd my thought,

And, to a higher Station I was brought.

There, I beheld what ruine and confusion,

Was of these M…mmeries, the sad conclusion.

There, …aw I what Catastroph…s attend

Those Vanities, wherein ou… times we spend:

How God still counterworks▪ and overthrowes

The projects of the Devill, and our Fo…s.

And, tell I could (…ut that it would be prated,

I some Propheti…k spirit arrogated)

Strange newes to those m…n… eares, who have not learned

What nay, by M…litation, be dis…erned▪

Yet, all th… … conce…v… I cannot write:

Nor would I though I co…ld: for, so I might

Throw Pearles to Swi…n; of whom I may be torne▪

Be t…ampled in the m…re, and ma…e a scorne.

Nay, tell m… sel…e I d…re not, what I spy,

When I have …oughts of most transcendency;

Lest Pride possesse me, and should cast me downe,

As far below, as I on high hav… flowne:

For, when we nearest unto heav'n do so…re,

(Till we are there) our perils are the more;

Since, there is wicked…esse which we doe call

The wickednesse that is spi…itu…ll

In he…v'nly places And as we doe know

The…e is a Light…ing which dot… oft…n goe

Quite thr…ugh t…e body, to the vitall pa…t,

And kill the very spirits at the h…art,

Y…t never harme the fl…sh; becau… it m…y

Through v'ry por…us member make it way

W…thout impr…ssi…n▪ So, from our offences,

Th… Devill doth extract some Q…ntess…ses ▪

Which we may rightly nam…, the spiri… of … ▪

And, til… ou… thoughts have sublimat…d bin,

They a…e too grosse for that to worke upon.

But, when …uc… Sublimations are begun,

He do…h infuse his …hym…ca…l receipt,

And, …ither w…k… precipita…on, st…a…ght,

O… m…kes those V…tues, which pure gold were thogh…

When they shall come to triall, worse then nought▪

I saw this danger (as my soule did flye

To God ward) and the Devills Chymistry,

I lear…d how to frust…ate; by assuming

H…mil…y ▪ and shunning high presuming.

I, of those lovel… G…ace…, got the view,

Which te…ch us how such peril… to eschew.

I learned there, how th…y m…g…t be p…ocured;

How the… continu…nce might be still secured;

And, in my pow'… i… is not to expr…sse,

How I was fi…l'd with h…pes of happinesse.

My thoughts (yet) climbed higher and perceive…

A …l…mpse o… thin…s …h…t ca…not be …onc…ived.

The Love of God; the Ioyes that are …o co…e;

A…d many fights …hat long were h…dden from

My blinded Soule. This, set my heart …n fire

To climbe a lit…le, and a little high…;

Till I was up so high, that I did see

The World, but like an Atome, under me.

Me thought, it was not worth my looking on;

Much lesse, the setting of my love upon.

My soule did strive to mixe her selfe among

The Cherubins, and in their Angell-song

To beare a part; and, secrets to unskreene,

That cannot by our mortall eyes be seene.

And, I would gladly thither have ascended,

Whe…e joyes are perfect, and all woes are ended.

As thus I mounted; by degrees I felt

My strength to faile me, and my wings to melt:

My flesh waxt faint; my objects grew too pure,

For my grosse understanding to endure.

A kind of shuddring did my heart surprise,

Like that which comes when sudden thoughts arise.

I far'd like him, who sleeping, dreames of store,

And waking, finds himselfe exceeding poore.

A pow'r unseene, did hold upon me take,

And, to my soule, to this effect it spake.

"I say it was Gods Spirit; if you doubt

"I arrogate, come heare the matter out:

"For, who the Speaker is, that will disclose:

"And, if 'twere he, his Flocke, his language knowes.

Despaire not Soule (it said) though thou art faine

To sinke from these, to common thoughts againe.

Nor murmur thou, that yet thou must not rise

To thy wisht height. God's favo…r will suffise

For that which wants; and these high thoughts are giv'n

In earnest of chat part of thine in heav'n,

Which by t…y Royall Master is prepared;

And, in thy time allotted, shall be shared.

St…ive to ascend; but straine not over long,

Thy cl…mbing spirits, lest thou doe them wrong.

The Flesh is heavy, though the Soule be light▪

And, Heav'n is seldome reached at one flight.

Mount high; but, mount not higher then thy bound;

Lest thou be loft, and all that thou hast found.

Search deepe; but search no deeper then thy pow'r;

Lest some infernall Depth may thee devoure.

Obse…ve thy Makers glory by reflection;

But, gaze not overmuch at his perfection;

Lest that great lustre blinde thee. Take thou heed,

Lest while thou thinkst thou homeward dost proceed,

Thou quite be loft: For, though these flights do raise

Thy Soule with pleasure, they are dangerous waye….

When higher then the vulgar pitch she towres

She meets with Principalities, and Pow'rs,

Who wrestle with her, that she may not rise▪

Or tempt her on, by Curiosities,

To lead the mind astray, untill it wanders

Among the windings of unsafe Meanders.

Then doth it whirle about, to see things hidden;

Pryes after Secresies that are forbidden;

And by a path, which tends to Heav'n, in show,

Arivéth, unaware, at Hell below.

Take heedof this▪ the way to heav'n is steep;

Yet, e're thou climbe it, thou must often creep.

The worke appointed thee, is yet unended,

And, Gods good pleasure must be still attended

Ev'n in this world, untill he cal… thee thence.

His Kingdome must be got by vi…lence.

Thou must with many frailties, yet, contend,

Before thy Christian warfare hath an end.

The World is brewing yet another Cup

Of Bitternesse, for thee to swallow up.

Thou hast from Heav'n an Arrand yet to doe,

Which (if God hinder not) will call thee to

More troubles, and more hatred bring upon thee,

Then all thy former Messages have won thee.

And be thou sure, the Devill will devise

Al… sl…nders, and all wicked infamies

That may dispa…age thee: or …ruitlesse make,

That use …ll wo…ke which thou dost unde…take.

Thou must prepare t…ine eares to …eare the noise▪

Of causelesse thre…tnings, or the foolish voic…

Of ignor…nt …epr…vers ▪ …nd expect

The secret C…sures of ea…h g…ddy Sect.

Thou must provide thy selfe, to hea…e great Lords

Talke, withou… …eason, big impe…ious wo…ds.

Thou must contented be to make repai…e

(If need require) before the Scorn…rs Chaire,

To heare t…em jeere, and flout, and take in hand

To scoffe at what …hey do… not understand.

Or say, perhaps, that of t…y selfe thou mak'st

Some goodly thing; or th…t thou undertak'st

Above thy Calling; or u…warranted:

Not heeding from who…e mouth it hath bin sed,

"Gods Wisdome oft elects, what m…n despise;

"And foolish things, to foole the worldly wise.

But …ea…e thou n…t. For, he that in all places,

And from all dangers, wants, and all disgraces,

Hath hi…herto preserv'd the…; will secure

Thy safety now. That hand which did procure

Release from thy clo…e Thraldomes, and maintained

Thy hea…t content, while thou went so restrained;

Will be the same for ever: and, like stubble,

Consume; or, like the weakest water-bubbl….

Dissolve t…e force of ev'ry machination▪

Whereby the world shall seek thy molestation.

Thoug… thou in knowledg… ar… a Child, as yet;

And, seemest not by outward Calling fi…

For such a taske: yet, doe not thou disable

What God shall please to say is warrantable.

His Word, remaineth s…ill in date, which sayes,

That, On the children of the later dayes,

He would poure out a measure of his Spirit;

And, thou the…eof a portion shalt inherit.

Though thou d…spised art; yet God by thee

Shall bring to passe a worke which strange will be

To most beholders; and, no doubt, it shall

Occasion some to stand, and some to fall.

For, men to ruine doom'd, will misconceive it;

And, they that shall have safety, will receive it.

Thy God ha…h toucht thy Tongue, and tipt thy Pen;

And, t…erefore, feare not thou the face of men,

Lest …e destroy thee. For, this day to stand

'Gainst Princes, Priests, and People of this Land,

Thou a…t appointed: and they shall in vaine

Contend. For, thou the conquest shalt obtaine.

Al…hough that viperous Brood upon thee lights,

Whose pois'ned tongue with killing slander smites;

And, though the ba…barous People of this Ile,

Doe thereupon adjudge thee, for a while,

A man so wicked▪ that (although thou hast

The Sea of Troubles, without ship wrack, past)

Gods Vengeance will not suffer thee to live

The life of honest Fame: Let that not grieve

Thy heart a whit. F…r, though their eyes doe see

Reproaches, which like Vipers, hanging be,

VponUpon thy flesh; th…y shall perceive e're long,

That thou (unharmed) them away hast flung.

And they who did exp…ct to see thee fall,

For thy firme standing, p…aise Gods mercy shall.

Against oppression, he will …afe maintaine thee,

Ev'n God, who oft did his protection daigne thee;

And tooke thy part against all those, that sought

How they thy Muse, to silence, might have brought.

He, that preserv'd thee from this plague, will save thee:

For, he thy life ev'n of meere mercy, gave thee,

To serve him with Thou knowst thou art a Brand,

Snatcht from the flaming fire, by Gods owne hand;

And that to him thou owest, all thou art,

And all thy Faculties, in ev'…y part.

Take heed, therefore, that nothing thou refuse

To utter, which he prompts unto thy Muse.

Be constant: and, Elihu-like, beware

That thou accept not persons; nor declare

With glozing …i…les, that which thou shalt say;

Left God may take thee suddenly away:

But, publish that which he of thee requires,

In termes, and words, as he the same inspires.

For, to this Realme and City thou art sent,

To warne, that of their follies they repent;

To shew for what omissions, and offences,

God sendeth Famines, Wars, and Pestilences;

And to pronounce what other plagues will come,

If their Transgressions they depart not from.

Indeed, of Priests and Prophets, store have they,

And, some of them are like enough to s…y;

When came the Spirit of the Lord to thee,

From us, who no such dangers can foresee

As thou pretendest? These are they that share

The pleasures of the time, with such as are

The Lands perdition. These are they which tye

Soft pillowes to mens elbowes; and still cry

Peace, peace; ev'n when perd…tion, hanging over

The peoples heads, they plainly m…y discover.

But, they that are true Priests of God among them,

And his true Prophets, think not, he doth wrong thē,

If he doe chuse a Heardman: nor will such

…nvy the same (or at the blessing grutch)

I… all were Prophets, and God pleased were

To make that Gift to ev'ry man appeare.

Though Gods own presence, had made Moses wise;

Yet. Iethro's counsell would he not despise.

He, whom the Angell fed, did also eat

Ev'n when the Ravers came to bring him meat:

And, all that of their spirit partners be,

Will heare what's good, though published by thee.

Behold; this thanklesse P…ople (from whose Land

God hath but newly tooke his heavy hand)

Forget already what his mercy hath

Vouchsafed; and his late enflamed wrath.

S…e, how they flocke together, to pursue

New mis…hiefes, and old follies to renew.

Their evill courses, they afresh begin;

And, ev'n those very purposes of sin,

Whose p…osecution this great Plague hath staid,

To finish now they are no whit afraid.

Those Discords which they, many times, pretended,

Amid their feares, should christian…y be ended,

(If God would spare them) are againe revived;

And divers new malicious plots contrived.

Those Lusts, of which th…y seemed much ashamed;

Those Vanities, for w…ch themselves they blamed;

Those Bargains, whic… their conscience did perswade

Were wicked; & o… …od abhorred made them; (thē,

That Pride; that Slo…; that Envy; that Excesse;

That C…uelty; t…at I…religiousnesse;

Yea, all that wickednesse pur…ude before,

(And which they fai… so truly to deplore)

Returnes with intere…t; and they contemne

Good things; as if the Plague had hardned them.

Like Phar'oh, they repented while the Rod

Was laid upon them. But, as soone as God

Removed it; their mindes they changed too;

And would not let their evill customes goe.

Goe therefore instantly, goe draw the Map

Of that great Plague from which they did eseape:

Set thou before their eyes, as in a glasse,

How great Gods Mercy, and their danger was.

Lay open their grosse crimes, that they may see

How hatefull, and how infinite they be.

Declare what mischiefes their enormities

Have caused; and will daily cause to rise.

Pronounce those Iudgements which Gods holy Word

Doth for the Wages of their Crimes record.

And (as the blessed Spirit shall enable,

Thy Muse; and, show thee what is warrantable)

Tell boldly, what will on their wayes attend,

Vnlesse their lives and courses they …mend.

D…lay it not; and let no worke of thine;

No goodly-seeming hope, or faire designe,

(How promising soeve…) draw thee from

This Taske, untill unto an end it come.

For, no affaire of thine shall finde successe,

Till thou hast finisht this great Businesse.

If any man that is thy friend, or foe,

Shall this deride; and say it is not so;

But, that thy Fancy onelyonly eggeth on

Thy Muse: or, that to doe, or leave undone

This worke, were much alike. If any …ay

Thou maist proceed herein, with such delay,

As, vulgarly, dis…retion thinketh fit:

Or, as thy common Bus'nesse will permit.

Nay, if thou meet, as thou maist me…t with some,

Who like a Prophet, unto thee will come;

And (as the Man of G…d seduced was,

Who told in Bethel what should come to passe

Concerning Ieroboams Altar there)

Perswading thee, those thoughts delusions are:

That, selfe-conceit, or pride, hath made thee dreame

That thou art bound to prosecute this Theame:

Beleeve them not. For, if that Man of God

Here mentioned, did feele so sha…pe a rod,

When his delay was but to eate and drinke;

(Perchance through hunger) and when he did think

A Prophet sent by God, had licenc'd him:

Take heed thou doe not this advice contemne.

For, since this motion urgeth nought that's ill,

Nor contradicteth Gods revealed will;

But rather helpes effect it: since he moves it

So nat'rally, that thine owne soule approves it

To be his act; beware how thou suspect it,

Or how thou shalt be carelesse to effect it.

Let not a worldly wisedome, (nor the scoffe

Of any) from this motive drive thee off.

Take heed the feare of dangers, not the losse

Of carnall hopes, thy purpose, herein, crosse.

Take heed, that Ionas-l…ke, thou be not bent

To Tharsus ▪ when thou knowst that thou art sent

To Niniveh. For, all thy doubts, and feare,

Will be as causelesse, as his doubtings were:

And be thou sure, that wheresoe're thou be,

A Tempest and a Whale shall follow thee.

My heart receiv'd this Message; did allow

It came from God; and made a solemne Vow ▪

It would not entertaine a serious thought

Of any worldly thing, till that were brought

To full perfection: no, although it might

Endanger losing my best fortune quite.

But, oh I how fraile is Man? and how unable

In any goodnesse to continue stable?

How subtile is the Devill? and what b…its,

And undermining policies and sleights,

Hath he to coozen us? My soule was raised

So high, e'rewhile, that I admir'd and praised

My blest estate: And thought, with D…vid, then,

My heart sh…ll never be r…mov'd age….

But, see, how soone, if God withdraw his eye▪

We fall to hell, that up to heav…n did flye.

I would have sworne (when in my Con…emplation,

I was ascended to t…at lofty Station,

So lately mention'd) that I should h…ve scorn'd

The goodl'est prize the Devill could have subo…n'd

To tempt me by. I thought, if God had said,

Doe this; that (though the World had all beene laid

To be my wages, if I should delay

The doing of the same▪ but halfe a day)

… …ve rather cho…e to have forsaken

My life: then so to have beene overtaken.

Yet, lo…; so craftily a bait was laid;

S…h showes of Goo…nesse ▪ thereinto convaid▪

… meanes of hel…e to Piety, pretended;

…o me so seem'd it, to be re…ommended

By God himselfe; and, such necessity

App…ar'd of taking opportunity

As th…n it off…ed was, that I suspected

I had …one ill, the same to have neglected.

N…y, to my Vnderstanding, true Disc…etion,

And, all the Wisdome of this Generation,

Did …o concur together to betray

My h…a…t; that I did foolishly delay

The Tas… enjoy'd. Yea, what I had bgun,

(Proceed…d in) and pu…pos'd should be do…

Before my best affaires; ev'n that I threw

Aside; and other hopes I did pursue.

I brake my Vow, and I was led awry

For that which was mor… light then Vanity;

And so my hopes my judgement did beguil…,

That, I supposed all was well th… while.

Most, also, th…ught me wi…ely to ha…e done,

And, …uch a fortune to have lighted on;

That o…h…rs, of my happinesse, began

To talke; and reckon me a prosp…rous man.

But, many scandals, passions, and vexations,

Much hindrance, and a wo…ld of perturba…ions,

Pursued me; to let me unde…stand,

That I had taken some wrong …ct in hand.

For, though like Ionas, I resolv'd not quite

From Gods commands to make a stubbo…ne slight;

Yet w…nt I to his Worke the fu…thest way▪

And, travell'd, as mine owne occasions lay.

Which he perceiving, s…nt a Storme that c…est me;

Mad… shipwracke of my hopes; my labou… les… me;

Bef…ol'd my wisdom…; of …uch joy bere…t me;

Within the Sea of many troubles lest me;

And, what with speed and ease I …ight have done

At first▪ hath long with paine beene lingred on.

Yea, when the Ha…v…st of my g…eat r…pute

Was looked for (and most expected fruit)

It proved chaffe; and, plainly I perceived,

That God had suffred me to be d…ceived;

To warne me, that hereafter, I should never▪

Omit, for any reason what…oever,

His motions; nor with holy vowes d…spense:

B…t worke his pl…sure, with all diligence.

Which after I had heeded, I descry'd

By what, and whither, I was drawne aside▪

I plainly saw, that what I then had sought

W…th hope of comfort, would my woe have wrough… ▪

I f…und that likely to have beene to me

A Curse, which promised my Blisse to be.

I prai…ed God, as for a savour done,

That he did lose m…, what I might have won:

And what the world did think me hapl…sse in,

I …ound a gracious blessing to have bin.

I s…w my fault; I saw, in vaine I sought

To worke my will, till … Gods will had wrought.

I saw that while the furthest way I went,

Gods Mercy did my foolishnesse prevent:

Yea, made it (by his providence divine)

A great advantage to his owne Designe.

And, for my negligence when I had mourned,

To my propos…d Labour, I r…turned.

I begg'd of God …hat he would give me grace,

To be more constant in a godly race.

I did beseech him to bestow againe

Those Apprehensions, which my hopes in vaine

Had made me lose: and that, for my demerit▪

He would not q…ench in me his holy Spirit:

But, gran… me pow'r to prosecute my story,

And utter forth his Message, to his …lory.

My su…e was heard: I got wh…t I desired:

My soule, with m…tter, was anew inspired.

M… eyes were clear'd; my heart was new enlarged:

Bold Resolu…ions h…d all F…ares discharged:

And, that which was d…sclosed unto me,

Doth appertaine, G…eat Britaine, unto the… ▪

Come heare me the…efore; for, howe're thou t…ke it▪

My Conscience bids me, and I meane to speake it.

Within thy pow'r thou hast me; and what e're

Shall good and right in thine owne ey…s appeare,

Thou maist inflict upon me: But, this kn…w,

That what I shall declare, God bids me show;

And that, if I for this, have harme, or shame;

My God shall at thy hands require the sam….

Oh! let not my requests in vaine be made;

Nor to thy former sinnes, another adde.

And, my sweet Country, and deare Co…ntrimen,

Let not these overflowings of my pen

Distastfull be; as if their spring had beene▪

But either from the Gall, or from the Spleene.

Let not this ages false Int…rpr…ter,

(Which makes both Iudgement and Affection erre)

Corrupt my Text, by their false Commentary,

To make your good opinions to miscary.

For, though in me (as in all flesh and blood)

M…ch error hinders from that perfect good

Which I …ffect: y…t I his meed may claime,

Who makes Gods glory, and your weale his ayme;

And, begs but of his words a pa…ient hearing;

And, from your follies a discreet forbea…ing.

If there be Truth, and Reason, in the M…ss…ge,

Let not my person hinder my Ambass…ge.

If God shall in his Mercy pleased be,

To make a Factor for his praise of me;

Let none the poorenesse of my gifts de…ide,

Since he to no …xternall meanes is ty'd.

Despise not what I speake, for what I am;

Vnlesse you find the mat…er be to blame.

For, God by Babes and Sucklings, oft, reve…l…s,

What from the wisest worldlings he conceales.

Both Heav'n and Earth, to witnesse here I c…ll,

I dar'd not speake what now I utter shall,

Vnlesse I thought, that God did me inspire;

And would this duty at my hands require.

Nor dar'd I to be silent, though I kn…w

That ev'ry m…n had vowed …o pursue

My So…le to D…ath; because m… conscience takes

A…kn…wl…dgement, that God w…thin me speakes.

I doe not this, for that I se…selesse am,

(Oh! Englan…) of thy infamy or shame:

For, thy dishonor doth concerne me nearly;

And thee my he…rt affect…th far more dearly,

Then cow…rds doe their lives. I would dist…ll

My blood (as inke is drained from my quill)

Ev'n drop by drop; or else, at once, le… all

Gush forth, to save thy honor from a fall.

I aime not at a vaine or fruitlesse glory,

B… d…ring: for, I know the mortall story

Of all the glorioust actions, that are under

The heav'ns large curt…in, are but nine daies wō …er.

And that the most deserving workes we doe,

M…y ruin… us, and helpe disgrace us too.

I doe it not that I may wealthy grow:

For, I the worlds rewards already know

…n such attempts. Experience I have g…ined,

What poore preferments this way are ob…ained.

My former Strain…s (which did but way prepare

For that, which I hereaft…r should declare)

R…ceived evermore the worst reward,

As they grew better worthy of regard.

A… (if God let not) as these are my best,

M… troubles, will for them, exceed the rest.

Tis odds, but that the wilfull Generation,

F… who… I write this large Anticipation,

(…o stay their censur…) will scarce reade so f…r,

A… hitherto, where th…se Preventions are:

B…t, here, and there, picke out some tart relations,

W…hout observing of those moderations

That follow or precede them. Else, perchance

Their brazen and Herculcan Ignorance

Will strongly keepe that Vnderstanding from them,

Whereby the pow'r of Reason might o'recome them.

Some also, peradventur…, will …orget,

How, when I formerly was round beset

W…th many troubles, I did still despise

The r…ging fury of mine enemies.

Yea some, no doubt, will have a minde to see

What kinde of pow'r, there is in them, or me;

And whilst such men there are, he thinks amisse,

Who thinkes to thrive by such a course as this.

Tis not from envy of their Lott, who grow

Great men, or wealthy, whence these lines doe flow▪

For, I rejoi…e in each mans happinesse,

Th…t to Go…s praise, good fortunes doth poss…sse:

And they that know my person, witnesse can,

My lookes assure, I am no envious man.

It i… not malice that hath wrought upon

My Passi…ns: for, I vow, I malice none.

No line or word of this which now I write,

Proceeds from r…ncor, or unchristian spight.

When I have wrong received, if I say

Wher…in; what harme doe I in th…t I p…ay?

'Twere much if when we inju…y susta…ne,

We neither may have helpe, nor ye… complaine.

'Twere hard, if knowing I had many foes,

I might not say so, lest some should suppose

What Names they bear. To no man this wil show thē,

But, unto …uch as doe already know them.

Nor▪ when I mention wrongs, doe I intend

Their shame who doe them; but some better end.

For, they that yet are enemies of mine,

May prove Go…s friends, and to my good encline.

I wis… them well, what e're they wish to me;

And of their harm… wou…d no procurer be.

In gen'rall termes, I point out those that orre;

With none I meddle in particular:

For, knaves and honest men a…e so alike,

In many things, that I amisse may strike.

I finde the faults; let others finde the men.

I no man judge; let no man judge me then.

My M…se …ath not usurped this Commission:

No… arrogateth to mine owne condition,

More excellence then others: But, I shar…

A part in those rep…oofes that others b…a…e.

I doe not thinke mine owne a spotlesse eye,

Because it faults in others can …spye.

I never thought it was enough for me,

A Criticke in my neighbours faults to be,

Vnlesse I m…rkt mine owne: which here I doe▪

And ch…ck the wo…lds and m…n… owne errors too.

I meane t… winke at n…n…; at none I ayme;

To heed or friend… or foes▪ I doe disclaime.

My Bow i… bent, and I must sho…t a flight▪

Of shafts, that wil… …n d…ver… places light.

Perhaps some o… them my best friends may wound▪

Vpo… my self…, som… o…he…s m…y rebound.

S…e (shot alo…t) may …ar the Kites that flye

A…ove th… clouds, themselves to Eaglifie.

Some p…er…e t…e…r s…des, who thoght they had bin got

B…ond th… re…ching of my winge… shot.

A… some who thou…ht th…y h…d concealed beene,

M…y fe…le my ar…ow…, wh…re they lurke unseene.

Ligh… w…ere they w…ll the car…'s already tooke:

Si…c… none but he tha…'s guilty can b… strooke.

Hist thou fo…got, oh! Britain…, (and so soone)

…hy lates afflictions, and Gods graci…us boone?

As soone as e're thy necke unflacked feeles

The curbing Reine, dost thou let flye thy heeles?

Shall nor Gods Iustic…, nor his matchlesse Love ▪

Thy flinty nature to repentance move?

But wilt thou still in crooked paths persever,

And of thy Vanities repent thee never?

Oh! looke about thee; yea, looke backe, and see

What wondrous things thy God hath done for thee.

Thou wert in future times, an uncouth place▪

That had of wildnesse the deformed face.

Thou wert long time, the seat of Desolation,

And when thou had…t but slender reputation,

God lookt upon thee, with the first of all

Those Gentiles, whom in mercy he did call.

Of his beloved Vineyards, thou wert one;

And s…uate like that, once plac'd upon

The fruitfulst Hill. God, for thy Fence prepared

A naturall wall, by …is owne hands uprear…d.

He tooke away that stony heartednesse,

Which did thy heathnish children first possesse;

And hath beene pleased, many times, since th…n,

To gather out those flinty hearted men,

Who by a bloody persecuting hand,

Did harme thy tender Sapling… in thy Land.

He plucked out of thee the stinki…g weeds

Of Sin and Superst…tion; that the seeds

Of Truth and Hol…ne…se might here be sowne,

Where wickednesse the so…le had overgrowne.

The choicest Plants (of that Vine-mys…icall,

His onelyonly-Sonne) he planted thee withall.

The stately Watch towre of his P…ovidence

Compleatly furnished, for thy defence,

In thee was builded up; and did appeare

To many other Kingdomes, far and neare:

And on the lofty Turrets of the same

He set his Flags, and Ensignes of his Name,

Whose beautious Colours being wide displaid,

Did make thy adversaries all afraid.

Within thy Borders, hath his Love divine

The Wine-presse, of a Christian discipline

Erected; and in ev'ry season given

(To make thee fruitful) dewes & showrs from heav'n.

Yea thou hast had, since food of life grew scanty,

Not barely seven, but seventy yeares of plenty.

What grace soever might repeated be

That God for Isr'el did, he did for thee.

He from a thraldome, worse then they sustained,

While in th' Aegyptian bond…ge they remain…d,

Did bring thy Children thorough Baptismes Flood,

And drowne thy Fo…s, within a Sea of Blood.

Thy Coast unto a large extent he stretcheth,

For, ev'n from Sea to Sea it compasse fetcheth▪

Thy Land with Milke and Hony over-flowes.

In thee all pleasure, and all plenty growes.

God kept thee as the apple of an eye;

And, as when Eglets are first taught to flye,

Their Dam about th…m hovers; so, thy God,

Doth over thee, display his wings abroad.

A Land of Hils and Dales thou wert created;

And in a Clime, so pro…itable, seated,

Th…t whereas many other Lands are faine

To water all their seeds, and plants, with paine,

Thou fav'st that labour: for, the Dewes yeeld matter

To ch…ere thy Gardens, and the Clouds bring water.

Faire Woods & Groves, do yet adorn thy Mountain…;

Thou a…t a Land of Rivers, and of… ountaines:

Springs hot and cold, and fresh, and salt, there be▪

And, some that cure diseased folk in thee.

Thee, both in Towne and Field, the Lord hath blest;

Thy People and thy Cattell are encreast.

Blest wert thou in thy going forth to war;

And blessed also thy returnings were.

He blest thee in thy store, and in thy basket:

Thine owne request he gave, when thou didst ask it:

He evermore hath timely fauours done thee:

Throughout the yeare his eye hath beene upon thee:

He carefull was, what perills might betide thee;

And heedfull all things needfull to provide thee:

In Grasse, and Corne, and Fruits, thou dost excell:

Thy Horse are strong, thine Oxen labour well:

The udders of thy Kine grow large with milke:

Thy Sheep yeeld fleeces, like the Persian silk:

Thy Stones are Iron, and …hy Hills are big

With Minerals, which from their wombs we dig:

Thy Soile is neither over moist, nor dry:

The Sun n…r keeps too far nor comes too nigh:

Thy Ayre doth few contag…ous vapours breed:

Nor doth it, oft, in heat, or cold exceed.

Still, for thy sins, thou hadst thy due corrections;

And, foundst compassion in thy great afflictions.

His Prophets and his Preachers God hath sent

In ev'ry age, to move thee to repent;

And, them thou smot'st, and murtherd'st, now & thē;

Yet, gave he not to other Hu…bandmen

His wronged Vineyard: but, doth yet a…tend,

In expectation, when thou wilt amend.

He, over all thy Foes, the conquest gave thee:

He did from wrōg, by neighb'ring Nations, save thee:

And, they to feare and honor thee were moved,

Because they saw thee, of thy God, beloved.

Thou hadst a Deborah bestow'd upon thee,

Who freed thee from thy Foes, and glory won thee,

In spight of Sisera: For, God did please

To make the Stars, the Clouds, the Winds, and Se…s,

To fight thy batt…ls. When her turne w…s gone.

He raised up another Solomon,

With…n thy Borders to …stablish peace,

Who to thy glories added an increase.

Thou wert as often warn'd, and punished;

As much besought; as largely promised,

As Iudah was. Thy Church that lately seemed

Like barren Hannah (and was disesteemed

Of proud Peninnah) in a spirituall breed,

Doth most of Syons Daughters, now exceed:

And thou hast viewed many of thy sonnes,

To sit and governe, on earths glorious Thrones.

The Iewish Commonw…alth was n…ver daigned

More great Deliverances then thou hast gained.

Nor was their helpe vouchsaf'd in better season;

As Eighty eight, and our great Powder-…reason,

Can witnesse well. For, then thy preservation

Was wrought by God (to all mens admi…ation)

Ev'n when Hels Iawes, on thee, were like to …lose;

And when, for humane aide to interpose,

There scarce was meanes, or time. All which was done

That thou Gods love mightst think the more upon.

Moreover, that no meanes might passe un…ride,

Which God did for the Iewes of old provide;

To thee he also sends his onelyonly Sonne:

Not, as to them, a poore con…emned one,

(That, seeing him, they might not him perceive,

And hea…ing him, no knowledge of him have)

Not as a weakling, or illi…e…a…e:

Or meane, or in a persecuted …late:

Or one whose person, beauty, and …mpl…xion,

In th…m, had nothing stirring up affection;

Nor as a man that worthy seem'd of scorne,

Of mocks, of whips, and of a crowne of tho…ne:

He came not so to thee for, thou hadst …hen

Despis'd and crucified him agen,

As well as they: yea, thou perchance, hadst more

Despighted him, then others heretofore.

But, in a glorious wise to thee he came:

With pow'r, with approb…tion, and with fame.

His Fishermen (that heretofore did seeme

To Iewes and Gentiles, of so meane esteeme)

Had won whole Count…ies from Idol…try,

And made them to confesse his sov'raignty▪

He comes to thee with honor, like a King:

He did into (the Church) his Kingdome, bring

A setled Government. He had assw…ged

That Iewish and that Ethnick spight, which raged

At his first comming. Emperours became

His Viceroyes; and did governe in his Nam….

Thou sawst fulfilled, many things (of old)

Both by his Pr…phets and Himselfe, foretold;

Which did confirme him, that Messiah, whom

Thou shouldst receive. His Doctrines well become

His purity: and, witnessed is he

By Martyrs and Confessors, him to be

Whom thou should'st heare. And (this hath greater made

Thy Favours, then that Grace the Iewes have had)

Their threats, th…ir punishments, their ignorances,

Thei… pe…tinacy, and deliverances,

Their fallings, risings, and relapses, are

Recorded, that by them thou mightst beware.

Thou knowst what Desolation they are in,

In recompence of their despightfull s…n,

The murther of their Brother: yea, like Cain,

Thou seest, that, yet, they vagabonds remaine.

Thou hear'st, their fruitfull Land hath ever since,

Beene cur… with barrennesse, for their offence:

That, w…thout King, Priest, Prophet, or good order,

They through the wo…ld have wandred for their murther

Nigh sixteene hundred yeares: and that al…ho

They be abhorred, wheresoe're they goe,

They have upon them, still, the marke of Caine,

Which will prevent their being wh…lly staine;

Lest (as the blessed Psalmist hath foretold)

The People of the Lord ▪ forget it should.

Yet, nor their good Examples ▪ nor their Fall,

Nor all their Blessings, nor their Sorrow…s all,

Have better'd thee: but, thou continu'st in

Their obstinacies, and in all their s…n.

Like them thou murmur'st, if God, but to try thee,

Some blessing, for a little time deny thee,

So, thou dost wanton it, as soone as e're,

In any suffring, he thy voice doth hear….

So, thou Gods wholsome counsell dost despise,

To follow thi…e owne foolish Policies.

So, thou dost mixe thy selfe with other N…tions,

And, learne to practise their abominations.

So, on those broken Reeds thou dost rely,

Which will deceive, in thy necessity.

So, thou dost stop thine cares (to thine owne harme)

Although the Charmer ne're so wisely charme.

That which thy Prophets teach, and well advise;

Iust so, thou dost neglect; just so, despise:

Yea, though from time to time, thou seest the path

Which …hou dost follow, ill successes hath:

Though thou hast found, that they who did fore…ell

Thy course was foolish, did forewarne thee well:

Though thou dost finde, no rest, nor peace, in that,

Which thou art yet unwisely ayming at:

And, though thy truest Lovers, ev'ry day,

Doe counsell thee, and for thy safety pray;

Thou runn…st headlong, still, thy wilfull cou…se,

And vaxest ev'ry moment, worse and worse.

Thy eyes are blinded, and thou canst not see;

Thy heart is hard, and will not softned be.

To thy best Friends thou shewst thy selfe a Foe,

As if, thou rip'ned wert, for overthrow:

And, till God please to turne thy heart againe,

All, that speake truth to thee, shall speake in vaine.

Whence doe thy troubles, and thy losses come,

But, from thy carnall policies, and from

Thine owne vaine projects, which thou dost pursue,

By courses, that will still thy cares renew?

What gaine thy children, by their of… alliance

With Babels issue, or by their affiance,

But mungrell off-springs; which will ready be,

To stir up everlasting strifes in thee?

Though thou hast heard, the Midianites doe give

Their daughters to no end, but to deceive;

And that the people who to Moloch pray,

Wi…l for their Idoll, cast their sonnes away:

Though thou hast heard what plagues ensu'd upon

The wivings of the wise King Solomon;

And knowest that by God, forbid it was,

A Bullocke should be yoaked with an Asse:

Though thou hast seene that their …ffiniti…s

Are ev'n, among themselves, poore slender ties;

And such as they doe nought at all respect,

Vnlesse they serve their p…ojects to …ffect:

Yet, in their course, thy Children doe proceed,

And sow Gods Garden with a mixed s…ed:

O… which, unlesse they t…uly doe repent,

And s…eke, by carefell tillage to prevent,

What may ensue thereon (as yet they may)

Thy Land will suffer for't, another day.

T…y Guiltinesse (oh! Britaine) makes thee feare,

And often troubled where no terrors are.

Thy faith hath fail'd thee, and thou didst not see

Those armies, which have round encl…sed thee

For thy protection. For, had they beene heeded,

Thou no Aegyptian succours should'st have needed.

If thou coul…'…t walke within a constant p…th,

This Iland should not feare Iberi…'s wrath.

It should be needlesse for thee, to pro…ure

Alliances, that cannot long …ndure.

Thou shouldst not care (but, as t…ey Christian… be)

What Kings on earth, were friends, or foes to thee.

No pow'r abroad, should make thy children tremble;

Nor home-bred faction cause thee to dissemble:

But, being safe in God, thou shouldst contemne

The greatest dangers, and get praise by them▪

Oh! call to minde, the times now past away▪

Those, which our Fathers, yet, remember may;

And let thine Elders tell thee (for they know)

How strong in Gods protection thou didst grow.

What …antedst thou, when thou we…t all alone?

When thou hadst nothing to rely upon,

But Gods meere mercy? and such grace bestowne,

That thou couldst use those pow'rs that were thine owne?

When blest Eliza wore but half thy Crown,

And, almost all the world, on her did frowne;

When Romes proud Bishop; and, of Christendome

The pow'…fulst Monarck, did her foes become.

When …he had no Alliance, to make strong

Her party: but, wa… hatefull growne, among

The neighb'ring Princes; for her casting by

The yoake of …abylonish tyranny.

When she within her Kingdome had a swarme

Of Hornets, which did howrly threaten harme

Both to her State and person. VVhen their pow'…

And fury, w… more likely to devoure,

Then at this present it appeares to be.

VVhen her owne Court …rom traytors was not free,

VVhen she had Irish Rebels to co…rect;

Opp…essed Netherlanders to protect;

And France to umpire in: ev'n when all these,

And other troubles did her State disease.

VVhat glory, wealth, and safety ha… t…ou got,

That she, amid those d…ngers, purchast no…?

Religion in her dayes did still en…re…se;

At home she had bo…h plentiousne…se and peace;

Abroad, …he was renow…'d: she did not paus…

In execut…ng o… her whol…ome Lawes,

Through feare o… any Malecontents at home;

Or any threatnings from the Sea of Rome.

She triple Geri…ns forces did con…emne;

Her neighbours sought h…r ayd; she sought not thē.

She aw'd the West: she from the Sp…nish Coast

Did rend their golden-fl…eces; and she crost

Their hopefull'st aimes. They could not unde…mine

He… Counsells; nor by any slye designe,

Defea… her Forces: Fr…nce was prudent then,

And would not stir the w…ath of En…lish…e…:

For, they p…eserv'd their honor, by pr…serving

Their trust in God; and coastan p…hs observin….

Then, to affront us, did no D…chman dare,

Nor, in ou… Voyages presume to sh…re,

But, with our favour. VVe had …ame by land;

O…r pow'rfull Navies did the Seas command.

To ours, the strongest Fleets did strike their sailes;

They, that now bark; then, d…r'd not w…g their tailes▪

Yea, …hough our Lyons not so many were,

Our strongest Fo…, to …ouze them, sto…d in feare.

No sonne of thine presumed, then, to be

So trai…erous unto thy God, and thee,

As to allow a popish Liberty:

Much lesse to move, …or that impiety,

In publick hearing. No man sought to sell,

For any summe, the peace of Israel:

No no… within ou… Ir…sh …onfin…s; tho

It somewhat urgent seem'd to have it so:

Because that peace…ll pow'r thou hadst not got,

Which now thou hast: nor, then, the neighb'ring Scot

So firme unto thy State; nor so engaged

To tame that Nation, if a war it waged.

Thy Patriots perc…iv'd, that to begin

With Ireland, would become the meanes to win

Great Britaine to the Romish yoake anew;

And, give the Spaniard courage, to pursue

His great designe upon the British nations.

They saw what civill broyles their Tolerations

Have bred in France. For, if within her wombe,

Rebecca could not but diseas'd …ecome,

(Whilst she, at once, two sons did nourish there,

Which Fathers of unlike Religions w…re)

They …hought, that if one Kingdome should admit

Two such Concepti…ns, to grow …ipe in it,

They …ould, by daily struggling with each other,

Afflict the body o… their nat'ral… Mother;

And, cause an endlesse Warfare, untill one

Were setled in possession, all alone.

Thou didst not then, within t…y Bounds afford

An Altar b…th to Baal ▪ and to the Lord.

What thou resolv'dst, was put in execution;

Thy zeale was chill'd with no irresolution.

No haltings were appa…a…. No disunion

Did hazard (though it troubled) thy Communion:

And, though thy many follies brought afflictions,

(Which, of tho…e errors, were the due corrections)

Yet, was thy faith in God, l…sse violated:

Apparant evils not so p…lliated:

Propha…enesse, not so patroniz'd, as now:

Nor didst thou such impieties allow.

But, th…u art changed from what once thou w…r…;

Thy worse hath ouercom… thy better part.

VponUpon thin… owne distempe…s thou art …ost:

Thy confidence in God is almost l…st.

And, thence it comes, that though thou dost ab…und

In many blessings▪ thou art needy found.

This makes Transgressions to encrease upon thee;

They bring new troubles, and new dangers on thee;

These make thee feare; thy terror causes thee

Impatient of thy feared harmes to be:

Impatience makes thee so unfit to stay

Gods l…asure; that, thou ru…n'st another way,

And seek'st for helpe in thine owne Fantasies,

In fleshly Leagues, and humane Policies.

Those courses overwhelme thee with new sins:

From them, another b…ood of Pl…gues begins,

Whi… doth not mollifie, but more obdure

Thy …linty brest: and will at last p…ocure

Thy to…all overthrow; unlesse thou climbe

The hill of hea…ty Penitence, in time.

Growne fat with case, & wealth, thou hast forsook

Thy God; and many crooked courses tooke.

God, who did thee so love, and so esteeme;

Who did create thee, and thy life redeeme;

Thou hast fo…gotten: yea, r…jected him,

And, sought those gods, thy Father did contemne

His Counsells, and his law, thou hast despised;

Na…, unto Devi…ls, thou has… sac…ificed;

And, them and t…ine owne …ust…, preferd before

His honour, whom …hou shou…dst have prized more.

The corne, and oil… & wine which thou enjoyedst

As tokens of his love, thou mis…imployedst.

The jewel… he vouchsa…ed to adorne thee,

(For his own pleasure) thou on those th…t scorn thee

Bestowst agai…e▪ The beautie which he gave,

That he the more delight in the… might have▪

Thou ba…ely p…ostitutest unto those

That a…e thy lust…ull woo…rs, and his foes ▪

Thy Vines like …ose of Sodom are become,

Ev'n like those plants, that are derived from

Gommorrah's Vineyard; and their Clusters all

Ar… sowre; or else, more bitter, far, then gall.

Thy Wi…e is Dragons poison: yea, thou hast

In all thy pleasant things, a lothsome tast.

But, thus in grosse, why should I l…nger sp…nd

My time, thy wickedness… to reprehend?

Since thou art impudent, and hast the face,

To make of the…e upbraidings my disgrace?

In my next Canto's therefore, Ile prefer

Of thy Transgr…ssions a PERTICVLER,

So du…y urg'd; that none shall justly say

I utter what I should not open lay:

Or th… my Verse doth brand t…ee with a crime,

Whereof their liues not witnesse all this time.

Observe it; and if ought I mention here,

N…t fitly …poken t… the publike …are;

O… if, but in a word, I wrong thee shall;

Me to the most impartiall c…nsure call▪

L…t my good purp…s…s be punisht more,

And pittied▪ also lesse then heretofore.

L…t me of all thy chil…ren be reviled;

Fro… thy most pleasa…t Bord…rs live exiled:

And n…ver be recall'd. But, if I tell

What thy best Lovers shall app…ove of well.

I… Truth I utter; and such Truth as is

To be discl…s'd: then ma…ke what's found amisse.

Amend thine errors▪ Le… thy folly cease.

Love him, that loves unfainedly thy peace.

At least, despight him not. But, if thou doe,

Yet he will serve thee still, and love th…e too:

Thy w…l…are rather then his owne prefer:

And, leave this Bo…ke for thy REMEMBRANCER.

Britains Remembrancer, Poem · Canto 5

The fifth Canto.